The Brandywine Valley Bed & Breakfast Association and the Brandywine Conference and Visitors Bureau have launched a drive to keep the Brandywine Battlefield Park in Chadds Ford up and running.
It’s called Reservations for Preservation. For every reservation made at participating bed & breakfast facilities, the inns will donate $1. That donation will in turn be matched by the visitors’ bureau.
Both groups are responding to the reports that the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission is considering turning the 52-acre park over to some other entity for administration in the face of state budget cuts. PHMC members are scheduled to vote on the matter in mid June.
“One of the major attractions in our area, the Brandywine Battlefield, is in danger of closing due to a cut back in funding from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission,” said Glenn Mon, vice president of the Brandywine Valley Bed & Breakfast Association. “This site is one of the most significant attractions in the Brandywine Valley, not only from a historical perspective, but from a visitor perspective as well.”
He said the idea was a joint idea coming from several member inns.
With the matching funds from the visitors’ bureau, the total contribution would come to $10,000.
Mon admitted that the $10,000 is far less than what’s needed, but said it’s a solid start and that guests staying at the various inns will have the opportunity to also match the $1 donation, bringing the contribution to a possible $15,000.
He admits that, too, is far short, but adds maybe others businesses and individuals will also help save the park.
“Of course, that’s not going to match the $250,000 to $300,000 funding that the battlefield currently receives from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission,” Mon said, “but it is a way to contribute some money to the effort and we’re optimistic that other members of the Brandywine valley community will step up and come up with similar programs so that this attraction remains a viable attraction.”
Of the 15 inns in the Brandywine Valley Bed & Breakfast Association, 13 are participating in the program. One of the participating facilities is the Pennsbury Inn owned and operated by Cheryl Grono.
She said that only about 25 percent of her guests visit or ask about the park, but that it’s still important to her to help keep the park open to the public.
“I think the battlefield is very important for the area,” Grono said when asked why she decided to take part. “It [was] the largest battle in the Revolution and it frustrates me to know that Valley Forge gets so much attention and so much funding and all they were was a place where the soldiers took a break.”
Tore Fiore, executive director of the Brandywine Conference and Visitors Bureau, said in a press release, “The Brandywine Battlefield is one of the premier attractions in Delaware County and Brandywine Country. The Brandywine Conference and Visitors Bureau will work hand in hand with the Battlefield and the Bed & Breakfast Association and reach out to our local and state elected officials for assistance and support in this endeavor to save the battlefield.”
The association has a page on its Web site regarding the program. Visit http://bvbb.com/reservations4preservation.htm.
In addition to the Pennsbury Inn, other participating inns are the 1732 Folke Stone B&B, 1800 Tory Inne, Bancroft Manor, B&B at Walnut Hill, Fairville Inn, Faunbrook B&B, Hamanassett B&B, Harlan Log House, Kennett House, Longwood B&B Inn, Snug Hollow B&B and Sweetwater Farm.
Not participating are Cornerstone and Stebbins-Swain inns.
About Rich Schwartzman
Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.
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